Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 128307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Some fears you have to face on your own, and excluding never finding my sister, this is my greatest fear to date.
Charcoal blackens the edge of my palm when I add some final shading to the curve of Cameron’s jaw. After one last stroke, I sit back and study the sketch. I’ve captured her uniqueness well. Her eyes are so lifelike I can see how wary she is. They also show the secrets swirling within them.
I’m not sure if it is exhaustion or adrenaline rattling my hand when I set the pad aside. It could be a combination of both. I am wired but bone-deep tired.
The throb of my pulse weakens when the faucet in the bathroom turns on. For a split second, I imagine a life where this is normal. I finish a drawing before joining my partner in the shower to wash off the charcoal shavings. But this isn’t my life. It isn’t my reality. I doubt it ever will be.
After slipping the sketchbook into my bag, careful not to smudge the drawing, I sneak toward the door. Each step I take is measured, and each breath is basically nonexistent. If Grayson hears my exit, he will ruin any plans to confront Cameron woman-to-woman.
I breathe out a sigh of relief when I make it to the front door of my apartment unscathed. My reprieve is short-lived when a voice stops me dead in my tracks halfway down the outside corridor. “Agent Machini.”
I freeze before slowly spinning around. Agent Cartwright stands in the shadow of the entryway of her apartment. Her expression is unreadable as she crosses her arms over her chest. She’s tiny, but this morning she looks formidable—like a wall I’ll never be able to climb.
“Going somewhere?”
I force a smile, but my nerves are so frayed it’s not even a smirk. “Just getting some air.”
When Adeline moves closer, she blocks my view of the apartment door, which I’m praying remains shut. “Do you have time to talk?”
I’m tempted to say no, that time isn’t in my favor, but the pleading gleam in her eyes sees me nodding instead. “It will have to be quick. I’m late for a meeting.”
“We can talk while we walk.”
When I gleam, grateful for her suggestion, she closes her front door before following me toward the undercover lot.
We’re only just out of earshot of Grayson when she blurts out a confession: “I lied.” I don’t get the chance to register my shock, much less interrogate her. Words fly out of her mouth so fast that I’m not sure she breathes between sentences. “I thought if I stepped back and let you and Grayson work together that you might finally see what everyone else does. It was silly, and I expect to be reprimanded, but I wouldn’t change anything if I could go back. I wanted you to see that Agent Rogers is perfect for you.”
I stare at her in disbelief as anger warms my veins. “You risked my son’s safety to play matchmaker?” That’s where my anger stems. I’m not mad someone is finally acknowledging the electricity crackling between Grayson and me. I am furious that she would endanger something that isn’t hers to risk. “You were never sick, were you?”
“No, I wasn’t.” She presses her lips tightly together. “But I never put your baby at risk.”
How can she say that? The doctor recommended bed rest.
When I remind her of that, she flinches before guilt creeps up her neck. “Your bed rest was a setup. From what I’ve heard, they paid off the doctor.”
“They?”
If she says Grayson’s name, all hell is about to break loose. He promised I would remain the lead on this case. If he broke that promise, I will not be responsible for my actions.
“I don’t know how high up this order goes. I’m too far down the ranks for that. But Markwell appeared knowledgeable about it when he briefed the agents Grayson had brought on to this case.” She reads me in a way I should hate but don’t since it offers immense relief. “Grayson is unaware. They also kept him in the dark.”
“How do you know that?”
Her exhale rustles a strand of hair that has fallen across my forehead. “You can’t fake the concern he had the day of your fall. His face showed everything.”
I’m lost, wholly and truly lost.
Instead of relieving my confusion, Adeline doubles it. “The cameras.”
Upon spotting my bewilderment, she curses under her breath.
“You don’t know about the cameras.” I shake my head, and she grimaces. “As far as I can tell, Grayson installed them to gather evidence to take down Agent Thompson.” Guilt swamps her eyes as she digs my pit to the full six feet. “He removed the last one last night.”
“Last night?” I apologize to everyone within a five-mile radius. My voice is ear-piercing.